The United States is increasing pressure on Britain due to Huawei

Reuters quoted informed sources that the United States has increased pressure on Britain before London's decision to upgrade its communications network with Huawei equipment, amid threats to cut intelligence exchange ties.

Britain is expected to make a final decision on how to deploy Huawei equipment in future UK 5G networks later this month. London is still studying allegations being circulated by Washington that Huawei equipment could be used for espionage by China, while manufacturers warn that banning Huawei immediately would cost billions of dollars.

Huawei, the world's largest mobile network equipment maker, has repeatedly denied America's allegations.

The sources said that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to pressure his British counterpart Dominic Rap on Huawei with a meeting in Washington Thursday.

Prior to the decision, Washington also planned to send a delegation, including Matt Pottinger, deputy national security adviser, to meet British officials this week, the sources said. But the flight was canceled at the last minute because of bad weather, according to Reuters.

Last month, the United States passed legislation that included a resolution that strengthens the restriction of intelligence sharing with allies who use Huawei equipment.

"The security and resilience of UK telecommunications networks is crucial," a UK government spokesman said. "The government continues to consider its position on high-risk vendors and a decision will be taken in due course."

Britain is a major battleground for geopolitical tension on Huawei. Officials decided in principle last year to prevent the company from developing critical parts of the 5G network, but to give it limited access to the less sensitive parts. The final decision has not been announced.

A provision of the US Defense Spending Act 2020, signed by President Donald Trump in December, directs intelligence agencies to consider using communications and cybersecurity infrastructure "provided by opponents of the United States, especially China and Russia", when entering into intelligence-sharing agreements With foreign countries.

The item added by Republican Senator Tom Cotton was specifically directed to members of the Alliance to share "Five Eyes" intelligence information consisting of the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

A Coton aide said the Senator team was working on a new bill that could be issued this month, and would significantly restrict intelligence sharing with countries that use Huawei equipment in 5G networks, keeping track of past US threats to do so.

"I am very concerned about the possibility that close allies, including the United Kingdom, will effectively allow the Communist Party of China (CPC) to build its highly sensitive fifth-generation infrastructure," Coton told Reuters.